By Nadia Stimack
The Sports Reporting Class of Mesa State College traveled to Denver to report on the Rockies vs Diamond Back game.
A warm summer breeze blows through the stadium. The smells of hot dogs, sunscreen, and beer, wisps through the air as the first pitch is thrown over home plate. Thousands of fans gather for a new season of baseball with excitement and anticipation, wondering how the team is going to play this season. Will they make it into the playoffs, or even the World Series this year? Fans will have to wait and see if the Colorado Rockies can start this season off with a bang.
April 1st kicks off the Colorado Rockies 2011 baseball season. The home opener will be played at Coors Field on that Friday
The Mesa State mass communication sports reporting class travels to Denver to report on the Rockies vs Diamond Backs game
afternoon, starting at 2:10pm against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The exciting news that was announced a few months back, the signing of Carlos Gonzales for 7 years, an $80 million dollar contract, has fans excited and hopeful to see the Rockies off to a good start. After signing, Gonzales quoted “I just need to have the same confidence that I had last year and forget about the past. Start working today. That’s all I’m going to try to do, be the same guy and help my team to win.” Manager Jim Tracy see’s Gonzales as a team player willing to help out the club. “This is not a self-centered individual,” Tracy said. “He’s shown that a number of times last year. He’s committed to winning. And he’s committed to everyone.”
They’ve also hung on to Troy Tulowitzki, and will for another 10 years as they previously extended his contract to $134 million dollars through 2020. These two athletes couldn’t make a better duo, and Rockies owners and managers are thrilled that these two athletes are secured to purple pin stripes, for several more seasons.
So what can we expect to see this year? The team has been warming up to the start of the season in Arizona for spring training. Coaches believe that this season will be a great start for the team, due to their favorable April schedule. With a previous losing record for four straight Aprils in a row, their chances of catching a winning streak right off the bat is looking more and more promising. In addition to not having to play any NL West teams on the road in April, the team will play only three of 27 games that month, against teams that had winning record in the 2010 season. The Rockies will meet up with their first NL West opponent on April 18-20th when they go head to head against the San Fransicso Giants.
Lance watches bating practice from the dug out before the game
Many fans believe that this is the Rockies’ year to take the series. With a few injuries here and there, the players are preparing for their 2011 season at Coors Field. Things are looking up for right-handed pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez, who was recently scratched from his second spring start on March 1st because of a cuticle infection in his right thumb. Jimenez in now back on the field, and scheduled to take the mound on April 1st in the regular season.
Both Jason Giambi and Todd Helton are also preparing and healing from their injuries last season; Giambi with a bicep injury, and Helton with a back injury. Both veterans are said to be a unique pair of lefties, sharing the same position, and will be expected to have a great start to the season as well.
Carlos Gonzales has also been putting in hours upon hours of practice, and his hard work has paid off. Gonzales went 3-for-3 in Saturday’s game against the Kansas City Royals, which Giambi knocked in two RBI doubles, giving the Rockies the 10-9 win. Gonzales, who led the National League last year with a .336 batting average, came into the game with a 1-for-7 standing. Gonzales’ season looks promising from this standpoint, as many fans expect to see him play out a great 2011 season.
With just a few more weeks to go, anticipation builds, and Rockies fans are getting ready for what coaches feel is going to be a successful year. The Colorado Rockies have been a starter team for many players, but one thing is for sure, that they have a team full of talent, and with players such as Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzales, and Ubaldo Jimenez, there’s no stopping this team from going all the way.
Megan and Delaney show off their press passes from the press box.